never-ending gallery

[dar]

So you didn't bring the groceries in then you old sailor?

[LisaLCFan]

... while i am passing by, i would like to share an old mission song called 'take your burden to the lord and leave it there'. i believe one or two of you might recognise the melody...
UPDATE:
it's been quiet for a while. this competition was difficult for anyone not a real, bona fide, genuine cohen fan - so i'm not really surprised nobody here knew the answer, even though i was hopeful...

I did not see your original post about the melody: when you add to a post by editing it (as you apparently did in this case), it does not show up in the list of "New posts" or "Active topics" on the forum menu, and the latter is where I always look when I stop by, and if I do not see anything new, I leave! Therefore, if you want to be sure that we see your latest (im)perfect offerings, you may wish to start a new post each time, and that way they will appear on the list.

Mind you, had I seen the original post, I don't think I'd have realised that it was a competition -- that was not clear. I do, actually, consider myself a "real, bona fide, genuine Cohen fan" (I should think that my forum name is a bit of a giveaway), but I do not always click on your links, or remain on them for long, partiularly if it is music that I do not like (and I REALLY did not like that dreadful ditty, therefore, although I did click on it, I could only tolerate a split second or so of it...). It did bear a resemblance to "Passing Through".

Speaking of music, your friend, Juanita, has excellent taste: "plain instrumental stuff" is, certainly in the case of Beethoven's sublime sonata, pure, absolute music -- the music of the universe, timeless and eternal, not tainted by the mere earthliness and mundanity of words.

On other matters, I really like those two drawings of the older gentleman in the hat -- not colourful in pigment, but colourful in style and evocation. Very nice!

[Geoffrey]

the 'new' or 'active' topics lists have never been visited. i usually just add to my messages if there are less than three images with no one responding. if nobody sees any additions it doesn't really matter a lot; the tide will continue to ebb and flo. making interesting messages doesn't come easy.

the 'competition' was nothing to take seriously. i find it difficult to be harsh with condemnation of music tastes, and try to have a wide appreciation of the various genres. the lyrics do play a part, but can also be regarded as simply another instrument, and often a rather versatile one. one doesn't need to learn italian to enjoy pavarotti, of course - just as an italian doesn't need to understand english to enjoy the euphonious vocalisations in 'astral weeks'.

i didn't particularly like that religious song either, but its association with 'passing through' added to the experience - especially as it seemed to mean so much to the disabled gentleman who sang. empathy is a valuable virtue, and allows one so easily to relate to anyone who has suffered. sometimes, feeling ignored and utterly useless, i truly wish i could take my burden to the lord and leave it there. intelligence is a handicap when it comes to searching for rapture. i knew that you possessed an ear that would instantly recognise the melody.

thank you so much for telling me you liked the two sketches. it means a lot, because disappointment in the pictures that come from my pencil is a constant personal reaction. below are the first attempts; colourful - but hideous - data efforts.

[Geoffrey]

So you didn't bring the groceries in then you old sailor?

hello dar. no i didn't, but i have been kind to her. today i drove her to the airport, and she will be away for 10 days. she has been texting me ever since, telling me what is happening, flight delays, train journeys, etc. i think it's important for people to know that someone is thinking of them, that someone cares and is interested. that's where i come in.

[LisaLCFan]

... the lyrics do play a part, but can also be regarded as simply another instrument, and often a rather versatile one. one doesn't need to learn italian to enjoy pavarotti...

I do actually like a bit of opera, but of course, you already know that -- we have had this conversation before! Knowing your procilivites for music, and knowing that you know some of mine, my above comments about Juanita and her Beethoven sonata were meant tongue-in-cheek. I was going to insert a afterwards to make that clear, and I guess I should have. Sorry!

PS. The colourised drawings are pleasant!

[dar]

Hi Lisa. I used to listen to lots of arias by coloratura sopranos. I had a Lily Pons album and would sing along to "O Mio Babbino Caro" even though I didn't know the words. I just sang what I heard. So funny to remember my 15 year old self just belting out all the wrong words. But there was joy in every word.

[LisaLCFan]

Hi Lisa. I used to listen to lots of arias by coloratura sopranos. I had a Lily Pons album and would sing along to "O Mio Babbino Caro" even though I didn't know the words. I just sang what I heard. So funny to remember my 15 year old self just belting out all the wrong words. But there was joy in every word.

How wonderful! I love to hear about people— young or otherwise— being completely swept away by beautiful and amazing classical music! That is one of the most exhilarating things in life! I am absolutely crazy about classical music— it is my greatest passion!

Stories like yours always bring a smile to my face— I can feel the joy!

[Geoffrey]

The colourised drawings are pleasant!

thank you to everyone for contributing, and for helping to make this quiet little area of the internet grow

seems like i've made it onto another paperback cover. this time a tom waits anthology

[its4inthemorning]

Hi G,

If you send me one of your drawings of Leonard, I will use it on the cover of my next book I about him. I will pay the postage and also give you 10%--no, make that 20%--of the book royalties. Tell me if I should peruse the never-ending gallery to select one.

Thanks in advance,

4

[Geoffrey]

its4inthemorning wrote:
>If you send me one of your drawings of Leonard, I will use it on the cover of my next book about him. I will pay the postage and also give you 10%--no, make that 20%--of the book royalties. Tell me if I should peruse the never-ending gallery to select one.

what a nice compliment! i seldom send pictures in the post, takes too much time and energy. easier to send high resolution via email. in any case, friends and visitors to my home frequently take originals with them when leaving. if i still have the one you choose, the postman could surprise you one day - but only after the publication of your work.

best solution would be for you to choose an image you like, and if it has not appeared anywhere else (authors constantly ask for these things) - then all you need do is supply an email address. if you can accept this method, and if the intention of your next book is to promote leonard's name by writing favourably about him, then i am not interested in royalties.

stay well

[its4inthemorning]

G,

My previous post was a (failed) attempt at humor based on your "Tom Waits" post, sorry to mislead you. But know that if I ever did write a book about Leonard, it would speak of him favorably!

4

[Geoffrey]

its4inthemorning wrote:
>My previous post was a (failed) attempt at humor based on your "Tom Waits" post, sorry to mislead you. But know that if I ever did write a book about Leonard, it would speak of him favorably!

ha ha ha, you rascal!!! - no problem. i love humour, but didn't manage to latch on this time. i have been involved in 8 or 9 books/magazines - so it's not unusual to get such requests. (don't know what these people are smoking!) next one will be an audrey hepburn publication.

came home a short while ago after an evening with friends at their home, and that's not unusual either.

enjoy the summer!
-------------------------------------
goodbye, norma jean

isn't computer software wonderful!

whether enemy or friend, a happy weekend!

[Geoffrey]

[LisaLCFan]

That guitarist's posture is terrible, definitely not the recommended position to play a classical guitar (assuming that he is playing classical -- his guitar appears to be a classical). His guitar does not seem to be supported properly -- is he pressing it against his body with his right arm? -- whatever the case, it certainly does not look comfortable! Also, his left-hand thumb is over the top of the neck, which actually makes fretting cleanly more diifcult -- ideally, for classical players, the thumb should be roughly in the centre of the back of the neck, more or less, depending on where the fingers need to be, which creates a better hand and wrist angle. Resting the thumb on top of the neck can also put downward pressure on the neck of the guitar, which can create physical stress for the entire upper body -- one's hands and body should be as relaxed as possible, holding the guitar as lightly as possible (which is where good posture and proper guitar support comes in), which allows for easier and more flowing playing technique, and the reduction of possible stress injuries.

[Geoffrey]

you have a keen eye, lisa. few people would have been able to scrutinise this guitarist in such detail. he did not sing, talked about people such as rodrigo and paco pena, and gave examples of various flamenco strumming and fingerpicking styles. the reason i chose to make a sketch was because he didn't give the impression of being ordinary.

in rock music posture means little, and the thumb is not confined to the rear of the fretboard - but that's a different genre
https://youtu.be/SR2v-pApNAw